Sylvania



(N0 Modl.)

. J. J; WHITE. v

SPAOING STRIP FOR FLOORS.

No. 59 1591. PatentedApr. 16, 1895.

l/w/tmeooeo I JwMM IJNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH J. WHITE, OF NEW LISBON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE PENNSYLVANIA MACHINE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN SYLVANIA.

SPAClNG-STRIP FOR FLOORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,591, dated April 16; 1895.

Application filed July 24, 1894.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH J. WHITE, a citize% of the United States, residing at New Lisbo in the county of Burlington and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spacing-Strips for Floors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improvement in spacing strips for separating the adjacent portions of wooden structures in order to allow the access of air to prevent the accumulation of moisture and consequent rotting of the parts and it consists in the novel features'hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated several forms in which I have contemplated embodying my invention and said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of wooden flooring with my improved spacing strip applied to the joist thereof, several of the flooring strips being removed. Fig. 2 represents a vertical transverse section of Fig. 1 through the flooring, spacing strips and joists. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the upper face of a portion of a joist showing my spacing strip applied thereto. Fig. t is a similar view showing a slightly different form of spacing strip. Figs. 5 to S inclusive represent transverse vertical sectional views of slightly modified forms of spacing strips.

The object of my invention is to provide a metallic narrow spacing strip to be used between the joists and flooring strips of floors, board walks and analogous wooden structures to separate the adjacent Wooden surfaces so as to prevent the accumulation of moisture and to allow the access of air, the said strips being so constructed as to continually cross the grain of the timbers which they engage so as not to cut into the same even though a very thin strip could be employed.

In the drawings A A represent the joists upon which flooring strips 13 or the planks of Serial No. 513,447. (No model.)

a board walk or other analogous construction are to be laid.

0 represents my improved spacing strip composed of metal which may be cast or rolled into the required shape or made from sheet metal as found most convenient or desirable. These spacing strips may be of any desired length and are given such a shape that they will continually cross the grain of the joist A upon which they are laid longitudinally.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I have shown the strip given a curved undulatory form, it being arranged in a series of compound curves or I may give it a zig-zag or angular configuration as shown in Fig. 4. When made in either of these forms, all parts of the strip will lie substantially at an angle to the grain of the wood with which it comes in contact which will prevent the strip from cutting into the wood when weight is applied thereto as will be readily understood.

I may form the strip also in any one of several forms in cross section. In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 it is illustrated as being formed with a central vertical web 0' having T- flanges above and below.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a modified form of strip 0 which consists of a vertical web 0 provided with laterally extending flanges 0 0 at each end extending on the same side of the web a and this form will be found particularly advantageous in constructing the strip of sheet metal.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a strip C consisting of a vertically disposed web and in Fig. 8 I have shown the strip 0 composed of a vertically disposed web 0 provided with a T- flange at one end.

In use the strips will be laid upon the joists or supporting timbers longitudinally and the cross pieces or flooring strips B are laid upon the spacing strips and are thus held out of contact with the joists or timbers.

It will also be seen that the strips will cross the grain of the flooring pieces as well as the grain of the joists or supporting timbers so that they willnot cut into either of the wooden surfaces which they separate.

It will be seen that by giving the strips the [0 allow the air to circulate between them on both sides of the strip thus facilitating the drying out of the Wooden parts and preventing decay and the accumulation of dampness.

It will also be seen that by holding the parts separated the dry rotting or decay of one of the united wooden parts will not be commu= nicated to the other, and that such decay will be retarded and reduced to the minimum;

As shown in the drawings the adjacent parts separated by the spacing strips will be secured together by nails or screws in the usual man ner.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination with the supporting timher and wooden flooring boards supported thereby, 6f a spacing strip interposed between the said timber and flooring hoards, extending longitudinally comprising a zig-zag Web having" portions extending across the grain of said timber and across the grain of the flooring, substantially as described.

I In testil'ndnywhereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH J. WHITE.

Witnesses:

GEORGE F. WHITE. 

